The Last of the Many - Hurricane PZ865

[Dpgsbody55]

My latest model is a rendition of the last Hawker Hurricane ever built, PZ865, a Mk.IIc.  It was completed on 27th July 1944 and to honour the occasion, was adorned with the inscription "The last of the Many" and was test flown by Capt. P.W.S. "George" Bulman, who flew the first prototype on November 6th, 1935.  It seems it was retained by Hawkers and not handed over to the RAF, but I have read on one site that it was handed over but put into storage and struck off charge in March 1946.  Either way, Hawkers bought it back from the Air Ministry and used it as a communications and test aircraft.

 

It moved to Dunsfold in 1950 and was given the civil registration of G-AMAU on 1st May 1950 where upon it was painted in royal blue with gold trim.

 

 

It then flew in the Kings Cup air race on June 17th, 1950 and managed second place.  On the day, it was flown by Grp. Capt. Peter Townsend who was no stranger to Hurricanes having become an ace on the type during the Battle Of Britain.  Notice here that the exhausts have been changed, possibly as the result of an engine change.

 

 

 

It later appeared in the 1952 film Angels One-Five once again in wartime camouflage as P-2619 US-B to represent an aircraft of 56 Squadron RAF but was later put back to it's civilian colours of royal blue and gold.  Here it is in 1955.  Note the different stripes.

 

 

And again in 1958.  No Top Gear track in sight at this time!!

 

 

During the fifties and into the sixties, the plane was used for communications work and was involved in the test programs as a chase plane on all the new Hawker types including the P-1127 VTOL prototype which was developed into the Hawker Kestrel which was the forerunner to the Harrier.  It was also used in many guises in the filming of the 1969 film "The Battle of Britain".  In one or two scenes, it appeared as OK-I to portray the personal aircraft of Sir Keith Park, AOC 11 Group.  After this, it was parked until March 1972 when it was presented to the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and has since appeared at airshows in many different markings that represent Hurricane service in the RAF.

 

Revell have very thoughtfully provided  the markings for this in their Sea Hurricane kit, which can be built as a land based Mk.IIc as well.  So without further ado, here's the model.

 

Cockpit:

 

 

 

 

The completed model;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to read the build log, that is here.

 

Overall, this was a very enjoyable build and the kit is a good one.  I may build another too, but that one will have guns.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

Edited April 9 by Dpgsbody55

[geedubelyer]

She's a little gem Michael. Something unusual for the display cabinet.

The subtle mods you added show great attention to detail.

 

A splendid result. Well done and thanks for sharing her here. 

[Mal_Belford]

Allright and WOW, here it is finally in its glory, it looks absolutely fantastic imo, like it very much, and its blue, love it. 

[Greif8]

Beautiful and highly skillful depiction of the actual aircraft Michael, beautiful work.  I appreciate the background history as well.

 

Ernest

[Shoggz]

A unique, interesting and beautiful model.

 

Nice one.

[Gazzas]

Very well done, sir.  Nice addition, the historical pics.

[Martin Kubis]

Very nice job, nice to see Hurricane in racing colour.

[Dpgsbody55]

On 4/9/2026 at 2:36 PM, geedubelyer said:

She's a little gem Michael. Something unusual for the display cabinet.

The subtle mods you added show great attention to detail.

 

A splendid result. Well done and thanks for sharing her here. 

 

On 4/9/2026 at 3:10 PM, Mal_Belford said:

Allright and WOW, here it is finally in its glory, it looks absolutely fantastic imo, like it very much, and its blue, love it. 

 

On 4/9/2026 at 3:27 PM, Greif8 said:

Beautiful and highly skillful depiction of the actual aircraft Michael, beautiful work.  I appreciate the background history as well.

 

Ernest

 

On 4/10/2026 at 5:31 AM, Shoggz said:

A unique, interesting and beautiful model.

 

Nice one.

 

On 4/10/2026 at 11:44 AM, Gazzas said:

Very well done, sir.  Nice addition, the historical pics.

 

5 hours ago, Martin Kubis said:

Very nice job, nice to see Hurricane in racing colour.

 

 

Thank you all very much for your words.  The Revell kit is a great base for this project and I had a lot of fun doing it as well.  Lots of research needed too, but the project was the kind of challenge I like.

 

It's highly likely there will be another such project later.  This model looks very distinctive, but needs company.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[LSP_Ray]

On 4/8/2026 at 11:17 PM, Dpgsbody55 said:

My latest model is a rendition of the last Hawker Hurricane ever built, PZ865, a Mk.IIc.  It was completed on 27th July 1944 and to honour the occasion, was adorned with the inscription "The last of the Many" and was test flown by Capt. P.W.S. "George" Bulman, who flew the first prototype on November 6th, 1935.  It seems it was retained by Hawkers and not handed over to the RAF, but I have read on one site that it was handed over but put into storage and struck off charge in March 1946.  Either way, Hawkers bought it back from the Air Ministry and used it as a communications and test aircraft.

 

It moved to Dunsfold in 1950 and was given the civil registration of G-AMAU on 1st May 1950 where upon it was painted in royal blue with gold trim.

 

If you want to read the build log, that is here.

 

Overall, this was a very enjoyable build and the kit is a good one.  I may build another too, but that one will have guns.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

Nice!

May I post it on the website?

[scvrobeson]

Awesome shiny Hurricane! Big fan of the blue racing version.

 

 

Matt 

[Dpgsbody55]

6 hours ago, LSP_Ray said:

Nice!

May I post it on the website?

 

Thanks Ray, and feel free to post on the website.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[dennismcc]

Beautiful build and finish, it will certainly stand out amongst it's drab bretheren.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis